Coronavirus in Scotland: People with mild and moderate learning disabilities to be included in next vaccine phase

Scots with mild or moderate learning disabilities will be included in the next phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Gavin Howcroft, aged 30, who has the learning disability global developmental delay (GDD), receiving the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine from Suzie Shakespeare, Senior Immunisation Nurse, during a mass vaccination of members of the public at Robertson House, Stevenage. Picture date: Tuesday February 9, 2021.

This group will be vaccinated at the same time as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority group six in Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said at the coronavirus daily briefing on Monday.

Vaccination appointments are currently being scheduled for this group, the next on the list.

Previously only those with “severe or profound” disabilities were included, as well as those with neurological conditions.

Priority group six is the largest of those offered vaccination so far, and includes all those aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions, including those with diabetes, blood cancer, heart problems, liver or kidney disease and those who have had an organ transplant.

Unpaid carers will be offered vaccines at the same time.

Ms Sturgeon said at the coronavirus briefing on Monday: “As of this week, we are also starting to vaccinate people with the first dose in priority group six. This includes people with certain underlying health conditions, which include but are not limited to heart disease, diabetes, or a severe or profound learning disability.

"I can though confirm today that with the agreement of the chief medical officer we also intend to include people with mild or moderate learning disabilities in group six, although we will we will have some work to do to make sure we are identifying and reaching everyone in that category.”

It comes after many in Scotland called for earlier vaccination of people with learning disabilities, including author Ian Rankin, who said people like his disabled son Kit had been “forgotten” about.

The move was welcomed by several charities in Scotland who had previously campaigned for vaccinations of Scots with learning disabilities to be brought forward.

The issue was raised in profile in England after BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley launched a campaign for her sister Frances, who has a learning disability and diabetes, to be given a vaccine.

The presenter questioned why she had been offered a vaccine ahead of her sister, who has since been given a jab but is now in hospital with Covid-19.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.